Attach a Sail to the Scupper 14
Attach Deck Lines to the Scupper 14
Bow Hatch Retention Mod
Rudder Install on the Scupper 14
Sit On Top Pros’ Nick Budden shows all how to install the Sealect Trucourse rudder into the Scupper 14 kayak. Any questions, comments or concerns email to us @ jim@swellwatercraft.com.
Kayak Delivery Day
Shipping Plastic Kayaks Safely and Securely
Shipping kayaks can sometimes feel like gambling. You spend lots and lots of time adding foam packing or bubble wrap only to end up mercy to the guys working at the various trucking terminals. There are times when heavy pallets or products will be stacked directly on top of kayaks in bags. Breakage can occur.
Enter the kayak shipping box- the longest cardboard box ever assembled in the state of Washington. It has perfect dimensions to fit the Scupper 14 kayak.
It costs us a lot of extra funds and effort to get this added security into our shipping. The box costs more than shipping insurance- so, why do we do it? Answer: we believe that the purchase of a non essential product of this magnitude deserves a GREAT customer experience. You chose our service- well then we will go above and beyond to make it the best possible experience.
Of course we back up everything we sell 100% satisfaction. But we understand that once that kayak arrives it’s time to paddle, not time to wait for another product to show up weeks later.
Stackable boxes receive a much better level of treatment on trucks and in terminals. So far, we’ve had 100% success rate with these simple boxes to avoid damages. Inside the boxes they are layered with foam and a very thick plastic bag that’s water tight.
Customers can sit back and relax. Your job is simply to unpack it:
Head to the water. And leave your troubles behind you for a bit.
Developing the Scupper Valve
By Jim Marsh
Swell Watercraft set out to build a faster, more comfortable sit on top kayak. The big idea was to lower the footwells all the way, just like a sea kayak. The added performance would be a game changer. But what to do with the excess water that filled into the cockpit? We had a number of ideas, but our patented Scupper valve was the avenue we ended up taking. It utilizes a 1″ ball that keeps water from coming in, but drains the cockpit through the scupper hole when you paddle fast. This is our journey building our revolutionary valve.
#1 We built this rudimentary yellow valve out of urethane as a test of concept. We were pleased it drained, but it also leaked, making it hard to measure. Still, we decided to build another one even though we weren’t sure this would be our solution.
#2 We added a rim underneath the kayak that keep water from rushing in. Bingo! We likey. It works well. Let’s make a polished prototype!
#3 We decided to allow the Scupper Valve to push down so you can turn it off and on. This allows one to not have drag under the kayak, especially nice when launching and landing. The orange cord was for pulling it upward. The metal bar was for pushing downward. It was also determined it wasn’t draining as fast as we wanted so we immediately made another one (both are in the photo)that was 25% larger to flush water faster. We’ll just make our Scupper hole larger on the kayak to compensate. Ultimately, we wanted more drainage so we made major changes to get there.
#4 Enter our masterpiece. Destined for greatness, this valve answered all our questions and solved all our problems. Perfect seal, great drainage, easy to operate. There was only one problem, when pushing the valve down occasionally the circular hole would distort and leak water. This took the air out of our balloon, but we knew we could fix the issue. So back to the drawing board.
#5 We added height, allowing the ball to move more freely. We thickened up the handle. We altered the shape of the drainage holes. We figured out a much better lip at the bottom, which creates the seal. Easy to operate, easy to drain, indestructible. We had finally achieved the level of performance we had envisioned in the first place!
Conclusion: It was Tim Niemier’s dream to lower the footwells to make the world’s most comfortable performance sit on top. In order to achieve this we had to take a journey of discovery to find our solution that would make this happen. This was more of a deep dive versus a quick dip. Thankfully Tim, Adam Bierschenk and myself had the time and energy to continue building and testing these prototypes.
Each step had value. The failure of #4 hurt our feelings, but it was very important to get us the level of performance we eventually got. We even had an injection molder alter our valves’ interior without our consent or knowledge. Unraveling that mystery, as irritating as it was, had immense value! We were able to understand the interior dynamics by comparing their version with ours and accentuate features that were obviously working. In the end, our own mistakes became our greatest teachers.
For More Info on the Swell Watercraft Scupper Valve, check out this video:
Sit On Top Pros Launch Pre-Sale on Scupper 14’s
Swell Watercraft kayaks have now been discounted for the very first time online! A new website called the Sit On Top Pros has the Scupper 14 on sale @ sitontopkayak.com.
The 10% discount lasts until June 30. Kayaks will be shipping to customers on approximately July 15.
The 2020 version of the Scupper 14 is now being built in South Africa with a lighter, stiffer plastic. The Sit On Top Pros are importing several kayaks from South Africa as well, including Vagabond, Stealth and Carbonology Sport Surfskis.
It’s a great place to reserve your new + improved Scupper 14. And this is the lowest price you’ll find this year.
We want to welcome the Sit On Top Pros to the world wide web. We commend them for their stance on innovative, fast, performance SOT’s and of course- the Scupper fits amazing with their inventory. These guys have great taste.
May the Sit On Top Reign Supreme!
Sasquatch VS. the Scupper
In 1993 a legendary paddling event occurred at the Salsbury Point launch, near the Hood River Canal Bridge in southern Washington State. After walking a half mile to retrieve his car, paddler Roan Eastman realized his kayak and paddle had been stolen. His PFD was the only thing that remained.
“I looked across the water and I saw nothing. The kayak has just vanished” he said. He’d never recover his orange Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro or his paddle.
This is where things get more than a little weird. A Coast Guard helicopter out on a search and rescue mission mentioned over the radio they were seeing a “huge hairy beast” paddling a “small blue kayak” near the bridge.
Was this the famed upright-walking, ape-like creature known locally as the sasquatch? Was this Roan’s kayak? Noone has the answers to these questions. No Coast Guard vessel attempted an intervention with the kayak that we know of. The kayak was never seen again.
The Sasquatch, of course, has been seen many times since, including by members of the Swell Watercraft staff. At first we thought we’d get a tattoo, then we decided we needed to tattoo all the Scupper kayaks. So we did it. In the tankwell.
Suffice to say that when Sasquatch decided to paddle, he took a Scupper kayak. We’re more than happy not honor the legacy of that fateful day. And if that beast should ever want a new Scupper, he just needs to drop us a line and we’ll hook him up with a good deal.
Hairy beasts. Killer kayaks. The Sasquatch Guarantee of Satisfaction. We all win here. Everyone that is, except Roan Eastman.